>>>>>>>>>Not sure what you mean by this. Don't software pianos, and pianos on modern romplers work the same way? With samples? Maybe the software program has better samples, but I don't think they work differently in theory.
Also, modern digital synths run software just like a computer. The difference is that the hardware runs an OS dedicated to the operation of the instrument; it does not have to deal with anything else.
I am not saying you are wrong, just curious as to why you categorically label piano VST's as better than what you can get from hardware.>>>>>>>
I have now made Logic Studio my main sound source, I couldn't be rational in explaining technical reasons behind differences, but I find software (ie computer) based emulation offers a broader sound, it feels & sounds more real. Perhaps it's to do with amount of MBs used to store a sound, which is limited on hardware synths. Just go & have a play with Logic Studio via a good set of cans or sound system, then try a hardware synth, my ears tell me to go with soft.
And I can almost guarantee that in the not so far away future most live musicians will make a switch to computer driven sound engines, so far I haven't seen a great controller board on the market that would implement most features required for live sound manipulation, IMHO Akai MPK49 is close to perfection, but they only offer 49 key version so far, if they only could do a controller featuring 88 QUALITY key version of MPK49, then we would have a king control board.
Here is a link with some basic examples of what's on offer, listen to that, then compare to other main workstation manufacturers demos. Pianos, organs, EPs, guitars (acoustic & electric), etc sound broader, more depth/detail. Tell me what YOUR ears will tell you.
http://www.apple.com/logicstudio/instruments/#overview
